Chicago to offer $2.9 million settlement to Anjanette Young over botched police raid

Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration is proposing a $2.9 million settlement for Anjanette Young over a botched police raid.

Alderpersons were told in closed-door briefings Sunday evening about the proposed settlement amount. Young’s and three other settlements are on the agenda for the Finance Committee meeting Monday. The other three cases have proposed settlement amounts listed, but Anjanette Young v. City of Chicago did not.

Young, a social worker, was in her Near West Side home the night of Feb. 21, 2019, when several Chicago police officers entered, announcing a raid. Young was undressed and getting ready for bed at the time, and she was forced to remain naked in front of the officers for 40 minutes as the ordeal unfolded.

Lightfoot’s office and the Law Department did not respond to requests for comment on the proposed settlement amount.

On Friday, Lightfoot’s office released a statement: “It is our expectation that on Monday, the Finance Committee will be presented with a proposed settlement for consideration regarding Ms. Young. Out of deference to that process, we will not be commenting further.”

[SOURCE: CHICAGO SUN TIMES]

NYPD Chief Rodney Harrison to be Nominated as Suffolk County Police Commissioner

The man who served as the NYPD’s first black chief of detectives and who recently announced his retirement from the department may not be on the sidelines for long, as he will be nominated for a top police position on Long Island, NBC New York has learned.

Rodney Harrison will be nominated to become the next commissioner of the Suffolk County Police Department, according to two officials. The nomination will be announced by County Executive Steve Bellone at a Tuesday press conference, Deputy County Executive Jason Elan told NBC New York. A senior NYPD official also confirmed to News 4 that Harrison had been selected.

NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea announced in November that Harrison would be stepping down as the force's highest-ranking uniformed officer on Dec. 30. Harrison was a member of the department for 30 years.

[SOURCE NBC NEWS]

HBCU Talladega College receives historic donation of $2.5 million

Talladega College recently received an anonymous and historic donation of $2.5 million in support of student scholarships.

With these funds, the College plans to expand its ‘Angel Award’ scholarship program which will tremendously impact the lives of current and incoming students.

“This donation is the first of many,” said Dr. Lisa Long, acting president of Talladega College. “Our mission is to equip our graduates for the global community through academic excellence, moral values, community service, and professional development.”

“These funds will enable us to continue our path of success and our unwavering journey to remain an institution of excellence,” she added.

In August, the College received an anonymous donation of $250,000 which was used to create the ‘Angel Award.’ This scholarship has provided financial assistance to nearly 100 students who were facing economic struggles.

According to Long, she is not certain about the identity of the College’s ‘angel in disguise,’ but she is exceedingly grateful for their generosity.

“Our College’s most important asset is our people,” said Long. “This donation is yet another validation that we're on the right track with facilitating the needs of our students.”

Among many other demonstrations of generosity and merits, the College recently cleared $925,666 in debt for students with balances for the terms of Spring 2020 through Summer 2021, and was recently ranked in the top 100 most affordable public administration colleges.

Georgetown University names basketball court after John Thompson Jr.

Georgetown's home floor is now called John Thompson Jr. Court.

The university announced the naming of the court at Capital One Arena on Saturday in honor of the legendary leader and former coach who died last year at age 78.

Members of Thompson's family, as well as former Georgetown stars like Alonzo Mourning and Dikembe Mutombo, sat courtside to watch the program honor the Hoyas legend.

Thompson's biggest star at Georgetown, Patrick Ewing, is now entering his fifth season as head coach at his alma mater.

Known for coaching with a white towel on his right shoulder, Thompson was hired in 1972 after the Hoyas had just completed a three-win season. In 1984, he became the first Black head coach to lead a team to the national title.

While winning was important to Thompson, he never shied away from speaking his mind and standing up for social justice issues. On Saturday, the program was also awarded the first John Thompson Jr. Award—an honor given to a school that strives to fight prejudice and discrimination and advance positive societal change—by the Big East.

"Coach Thompson's impact on this program, this athletic department and this university will last forever," Georgetown athletic director Lee Reed said. "Knowing what he stood for, knowing the importance of the work he did in his lifetime, it's our responsibility collectively to not only uphold that but to continue to move that forward."

University of Virginia names Tony Elliott as its next football coach

Tony Elliott has been hired as the University of Virginia’s 41st head football coach. The official news of his selection as the Fralin Family Head Football Coach arrived Friday afternoon, setting social media ablaze, as Charlottesville is now home to one of the more respected names in the Atlantic Coast Conference and beyond.

Elliott, Clemson University’s offensive coordinator since 2014 and assistant head coach since January, helped the Tigers to national titles in 2017 and 2019, plus six ACC championships and four appearances in the College Football Playoff.

In 2017, he won the Broyles Award, an annual accolade that goes to the best assistant coach in college football. Past winners include some of the most successful head coaches in the game, including University of Southern California’s Lincoln Riley and the University of Georgia’s Kirby Smart.

“This is an awesome opportunity for the University of Virginia as we welcome Coach Tony Elliott into the UVA football family,” UVA athletics director Carla Williams said. “Coach Elliott is a winner in every sense of the word. He is known for his character, humility, work ethic, skill set and passion for education. Coach Elliott is an exceptional leader of young men and he is highly regarded across college football as a talented teacher and coach. He is an outstanding recruiter who has been responsible for recruiting, signing and developing scholar-athletes while competing for and winning championships.

“We aspire to elevate UVA football in a manner that is consistent with the University’s core mission and purpose. Coach Elliott understands and embraces this amazing opportunity to do something really special at the University of Virginia. I am thrilled for the young men in our football program. We are honored to welcome him, his wife Tamika and their sons, A.J. and Ace, to Virginia.”

As a player at Clemson, Elliott worked his way up from a walk-on to a team captain by his senior season. He was a first-team Academic All-ACC selection, earning his degree in industrial engineering.

Elliott will replace current head coach Bronco Mendenhall following the Cavaliers’ Dec. 29 matchup with Southern Methodist University in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl at Fenway Park in Boston.